An array of pumped up and patriotic Republicans gathered Friday in Denver, determined to oust President Barack Obama in November and to elect more of their own to the legislature and Congress.

Some backed Mitt Romney for president. Others were passionate about Ron Paul or Rick Santorum, although he dropped out of the presidential race this week.

“This is a Democratic Party that is in despair, that is radical, and somehow they know we’re going to win this election in November,” former U.S. Sen. Hank Brown said to cheers at one congressional district assembly.

Republicans met at the Colorado Convention Center to elect three delegates and three alternates each from six congressional districts.

They also nominated candidates for district attorneys, Congress and legislative districts that cross county lines.

As predicted, there was drama in some congressional assemblies.

In the Denver-based 1st Congressional District, Paul’s supporters protested the rules and claimed the check-in was closed early in an attempt to keep them out.

But Romney’s campaign wasn’t any happier. Spokesman Ryan Williams said their person who was monitoring the event was kicked out, as was the media initially, and they believe more votes were cast than were allowed.

“We are seriously considering filing a complaint with the Colorado Republican Party,” he said.

The “Conservative Unity Slate” scored big at the convention, with their candidates for the Republican National Convention winning or sweeping. For example, all five candidates on the slate in the 4th Congression District won the top slots, with Guy Short, a former top staffer for U.S. Rep. Marilyn Musgrave, winning the most votes.

Republicans meet again today at the University of Denver’s Ritchie Center for the state convention, where they will elect the final 12 delegates and final 12 alternates to send to the RNC.

More than 800 Republicans are vying for just 33 slots to the RNC, more than twice the number of people who ran four years ago.

“This isn’t just a case of more excitement,” said U.S. Rep. Cory Gardner of Yuma. “The passion is unbelievable.”

A local union president slammed by Donald Trump on Twitter stood his ground Thursday, maintaining the president-elect gave false hope to hundreds of workers by inflating the number of jobs being saved at a Carrier Corp. factory in Indianapolis.